Eight weeks! Fossa is back together at last. This must have been the longest time to date that Fossa’s engine was disassembled since we have have started working on her in February 2012. 8 November saw us running her no.2 big end bearing and we did a first start on her rebuilt engine on the 4th of January.

Feedback: Initially we planned to use our AX block, during assembly for some at the time “unexplained” reason the sub assembly “locked up” during cranking with a crank handle. We had two sets of new 10 thou big end and main bearings from different manufacturers. Despite both sets allegedly being 10 thou oversize they measured different thickness’s. I started by using the thickest of shells, using plasti-gauge measuring perfect spec. Suspecting a problem with the block I moved everything across to our old block and experienced the same “lock-up”.  Fitting the thinner shells had her turning over smoothly.

Camshaft: Our 244 Kent profiled camshaft still looks new on the lobes, the same can not be said for the gear driving the distributor and the HPHV oil pump. We then purchased another “244” camshaft. 244 in inverted comma’s, because our previous 244 camshaft measured correct against the spec’s given with a duration of 290°. Our new 244 cam have a duration of 320°. If now you feel confused, please do not feel alone. A decision to use the new “244” camshaft did not come easy taking days of measurement, discussion and doubt. The doubt part still remains.

Carburettors: We planned to fit our 40DCOE Weber carburettors supplied by Philip Pritchard. This would mean to move the master cylinders and some assembly to integrate throttle action etc. All the materials for the move already purchased but with time starting to become a issue and the need for the correct jetting set that idea aside for now. We may or may not get a pedal box later this month, if not I will build one and move the master cylinders indoors.

Engine mounts: During her engine removal we saw that her right hand engine mount also cracked. Using our friend Google I found images of standard Anglia engine mounts with a bolt through being used for racing. It is a extremely rigid solution as an idling Fossa proves with the slightest vibration being transmitted through the chassis. It is fine for a temporary solution but I will be acquiring some poly urethane to replace the old rubber in the mounts. EDIT: Got the polyurethane and rebuilt the engine mounts and gearbox mounting, Good results!

Fossa Ford Anglia engine mount

Fossa Ford Anglia gearbox mount

Fossa Ford Anglia moved on her own power today, pulling her out for a wash and a slow lap around the block. Her engine feels a bit stiff and her steering wheel has gone off-center. Some more running in and verifying steering connections on the cards.

Only one weekend left before HTP and another week before The Passion Of Speed at Zwartkops Raceway!

The year is almost over and Fossa is standing outside with her engine stripped. Yet it is not all doom and gloom …….

TEAM tuxracing and Fossa are the 2014 Pre66 Legends, Little Giants Class U Champions!

What will 2015 hold? Who knows? A few immediate experiments in the planning and executing phases. Sidedraughts on the cards, do they work? Some say they will some say they won’t.

It’s like talking about oil ….. this is getting so boring. Went to buy some spares for our Cortina at a local spares shop. The oil discussion comes up. FRIGGEN HELL, that almost lead to a old fashioned bar fight! And I assume everybody there was sober. Our Castrol Edge served us well in 2014. The oil was not the reason for the valve breaking unless Castrol Edge can suddenly dissolve valve stems. Quite frankly, this oil thing is getting a bit boring. It is pretty much the same with parts, use this big end bearings ….. no that is rubbish, use these …. no use these. The same can be said for anything else on a car. Everybody have their own preferences and opinions and their opinion is the only one that counts.

As I said before, collect information, combine and then use what you can to the best of your ability. Yes, it has been a year of learning, on the track and off. I think a lot of success on the track was due to some gained confidence in Fossa’s capabilities.

Fossa, corner eight Zwartkops Raceway, October 2014  Pic: Meghan Mccabe

Currently Fossa’s sub assembly is taking shape, everything spotless clean, new 290° camshaft and cam followers, crankshaft supplied by Cameron McLeod machined to 10″ fitted with bearing clearance to specification. It is getting there, next challenge, a matching set of conrods …….. Have a few a spares …… Need to match a set.

2015 …..

Our provision schedule is as follows:

31 Jan – Zwartkops – INT – LGD, SP&GT, ISP, TA, LG

7 Feb – C.T. – INT (INV) – LGD, SP&GT, ISP, TA, LG

7 March – Kyalami – LGD, SP&GT, ISP, TA, LG

11 April – Dezzi – LGD, SP&GT, LG (INV) ISP, TA

2 May – Kyalami – LGD, SP&GT, ISP, TA, LG

6 June – Zwartkops – LGD, SP&GT, ISP, TA, LG

4 July – Phakisa – LGD, SP&GT, ISP, TA, LG

19 Sep – Zwartkops – LGD, SP&GT, ISP, TA, LG

10 Oct – Phakisa – (INV) – LGD, SP&GT, ISP, TA, LG

14 Nov – Kyalami – LGD, SP&GT, ISP, TA, LG

8th round TBA

We might do a Phakisa and we “planned” to do Dezzi’s. Originally there was talk of Dezzi’s in September 2015 and that would have allowed time to save to that target. With it being in April however put it out of our reach, see you Natalians in 2016!

What else? Maybe a few Super Traxday stints. Maybe try and enter another 111 Sports and Saloons at an Extreme Festival. And if time and funds allow, attend a few other events as speccies!

Till next time, cheers!

The day arrives. It is going to be like a Cannon Ball Run Challenge. Qualify, race, wedding …… race …..?

How wrong can that be? Chris, “The Roach”, helps us load Fossa. Today we are a man down, “The Roach” is staying behind. He is doing his first stint as DJ at the wedding part of our challenge for the day. Smooth sailing to arriving to a impressively neat Kyalami. It seems things are happening under the new ownership of Toby Venter.

Fossa is unloaded, trailer parked, everything unpacked. Fluid levels and tyre pressures checked. Cup of coffee and a muffin ……

Fossa in wedding guise

Qualifying: Head out confident. And then sudden unexplained loss of power, then it’s back, then it is gone. Struggle round twice and back into the pits …… suspect a fuel delivery problem ….. Well in a way it was, and an ignition problem. the cable providing the much needed positive came loose from the coil. That’s not all folks!!! Trying to start Fossa, the starter turns but nothing happens, bendix gone again. A quick run start from Annalie and one of our new found Taylor Alfa friends Fossa starts and I go and play. This time around I complete a lap in 2:27.380 bettering our previous best … This was after only completing 3 timed laps, 😉

Fossa pre race line up         Pic: Annalie Visagie

No rest between qualifying and race one, first drivers briefing, then down to Fossa to remove her now useless starter motor. Pulling out her starter motor, HORROR! The bendix had came apart and there are some parts left in the bell housing keeping the flywheel & pressure plate company. Imagining what they can do at some rpm, I start a challenge fishing for them with a magnet in an all magnetic area. I manage to recover the biggest piece with a washer and the retaining clip still MIA.

Fossa being tailed        Pic: Annalie Visagie

Race one, without the help of our starter motor Annalie and our Alfa friend push start Fossa. After a lengthy idle in pre race paddock I have to switch Fossa off. Do not want her to overheat. Luckily we have a push starter ready in the form of Annalie and she is joined by one of our fellow racing drivers! THANKS!

Fossa Ford Anglia in action 1, Pic: Kerry Hughes

We do our first lap to formation and then lap in formation to our running start. Lap 1, just keep ahead of our old competition, the MGB, Mk2 Cortina GT and a Volvo P1800. A MGB GT that must have qualified bad pulls through and the MGB wants to tail past, luckily the MGB GT do not have the straight line speed and Fossa gradually starts pulling away catching up with Andre De Kock in a GSM Dart. The Dart is usually quite fast and must have been racing with some sort of handicap. I can catch up with the Dart and follow on his tail for a while then pass him on the mineshaft. Andre is still racing to the best of his Dart’s ability and in the bowl I line up for the corner incorrectly and Andre passes me again. With me being “held up” behind Andre the following is catching up and in the near future I pass Andre and start building a little breathing room when as I pass the pit entry Fossa’s engine starts making a noise and I have to start slowing down. I pull of on an escape road and head for the trailer park. Despite that, we run a best ever 2:26.745 on that final lap. Really disappointed as it was serious fun and there was a next target just around the corner.

Fossa Ford Anglia in action 2, Pic: Kerry Hughes

Oh well, we start loading all the equipment once again with some Alfa help! Fossa is loaded on the trailer and then …..

…… gentleman comes walking towards us. He hands us a shoebox, nogal a Nike box. Now if that was just a weird gentleman, that could have raised some questions and sure we drive and race Ford’s, does not mean we walk that often.. But this gentleman is Philip Pritchard, and the box contain no shoes ………

A pretty pair, Weber 40 DCOE’s

That set some new targets. need to see if I can somehow accommodate this pair of Weber 40DCOE’s. Fossa’s existing clutch and master cylinders are in the way of a standard setup. Will look into some sort of angled approach for now. But first a more known procedure, pull her engine and see what went haywire …..

Would like a session on track in December, other than that our next race will be 30 & 31 January 2015.

Passion for Speed 2015

Greetings …………